Painting Word Bearers: Step by Step tutorial

Welcome to my first tutorial. Word Bearers are probably one of the most popular Chaos Space Marine colour schemes out there, and you're in luck, it's also one of the simplest. Let's get started...

Paints you'll need:
Chaos Black & Skull White (of course)
Scorched Brown
Scab Red
Blood Red
Chainmail
Mithril Silver
Dhenab Stone
Devlan Mud
Caliban Green
Knarloc Green
Rotting Flesh
Bubonic Brown
Codex Grey
Tausept Ocre
Golden Yellow
Blazing Orange
Oil paints - Burnt umber & Ivory Black (although any black and dark brown will work)

Gloss and Matt varnish
White Spirit.

I realise that virtually all of these colours (with the exception of Caliban Green) are from the old range. However, here is a link to  a chart on Dakka Dakka which shows all the brands of paint and how their colours match up. In many cases, the match may not be 100%. However, the differences are small enough not to matter here, the combinations will still work.

Here we go:
1. Prime your model:

I have primed mine with Vallejo grey primer. You can use any primer you want, though I do recommend using a lighter colour to help the base coat to really shine.

2. Spray Scorched Brown into the recesses and underneath the model.

This will add an easy and quick blended shade to the base coat.

3. Spray the entire model with Scab Red.

Try not to get too much of the red in the under sections of the model.

4. Spray on Blood Red straight from above, and on any areas that may catch the light.

This will create a natural highlight which creates the illusion of light shining down from above on the mini.

It doesn't look totally natural right now, but it will be rectified in the next step.















5. Gloss varnish the mini, and give it an ink wash made from combining the brown and black oil paints and then thinning them with white spirit.

You can as neat or as messy as you want here, though the neater you are, the less clean up you will need to do in the next step.

The gloss varnish allows the ink to flow much easier across the surface of the model and settle in the recesses.















6. Dip a piece of sponge such as kitchen sponge or a makeup applicator into white spirit, squeeze most of it out, then wipe it over the model to clean off excess ink.

This is the second reason for the gloss varnish. Don't be too rough cleaning the model, as the varnish will only protect your paint job so much...we're just trying to clean the ink from any surfaces and leave it in all the recesses.

Once the model is dry, give it a matt varnish to remove the shine.

Try a hairdryer to speed things up. Personally, I have a little fan heater that I use to keep my feet warm...












7. Now we're gonna mix a pinkish red to highlight the model.

Using Scab Red and Dhenab Stone, aim for a shade similiar to the one shown on the left.

Try to use the edge of the brush, and pick out the hard edges on the armour. There's no need to go over the armour trim as this will be painted silver. Using a VERY fine brush, add some small, fine lines to the inside of the armour trim. Don't go over the shading. This step isn't 100% necessary, but it's a nice extra touch.
















8. Now add some more Dhenab Stone to your highlight colour...

I know it looks pretty pink, but trust me here...
When painting a red such as that seen on Blood Angels, a more orangey red is needed for highlights to make is looks bright and firey. On a scarlet red like this however, small, pinkish highlights tend to work better.

Use the same method as the previous step. However, leave some of the previous highlight showing. This will look like a sharper point of light.


















9. Paint the armour trim Chainmail.

Try to be as neat as possible here. The codex shows the entire backpack painted red, I like this look though and tend to use it no matter what Chaos Marine colour scheme I paint. It breaks up the model a little I think.

















10. Paint any horns and skulls with Dhenab Stone

Keep your paint thin here, and go for a couple of thin coats. It'll create a much smoother finish, with can be tricky to get with light paints.











11. Paint and joints in the armour, such as behind the knee, and any piping Chaos Black.








12.Paint any holsters and cloth with Bubonic Brown

Same advice as for the bone colours here, two or three thinner coats. Although Bubonic Brown isn't necessarily a lighter colour, it can be a bit thin and sticky...









13. Paint the eyes with Caliban Green.

Once again, keep the paint thin and use a fine brush. You'll need a steady hand for this bit, but don't worry because it's such a small bit that only a touch is needed. If you're not too confident about your brush control, this is all you need for the eyes. Any further steps are just for show.




14. Wash all metals, bone, horn and leather with Devlan Mud.
Try to be neat here, and keep the wash from any red areas. It won't matter too much if it falls in any recesses where the ink wash is however.


















15. Highlight the Chainmail with Mithril Silver.
Keep the paint thin and don't go overboard. You're just looking to pick out the very edges and points of the metal here.
















16. Highlight the horns and bone with Dhenab Stone, followed by Skull White.
The Dhenab Stone goes everywhere other than the deepest recesses. Then use the edge of the brush to add Skull White on only the edges, or the tip of the horn.

You can also highlight the leather areas with a mix of Bubonic Brown and Dhenab Stone. As always, thin paint and edge of brush...repeat! Thin paint, edge of brush!






17. Highlight the black areas, such as tubing, with Codex Grey. 

Remember what I just told you? Well, just for this bit, you may need to use the tip of your brush instead...






18. Now to finish the eyes. Paint the front two thirds of the eye with Knarloc Green, and then the front third with Rotting Flesh. Finally, add a small dot of Skull White to the rear of the eye.

Once again, keep your paints thin and use your finest brush.







19. The model is practically done now. If you want to base it now and game...well you could've done that a while back...but let's add some cool details.

The text is very easy to add. Using thinned down Dhenab Stone, use your finest brush and add thin, slightly shakey lines.

The Chaos star was done using Chaos Black. Draw four lines in a star pattern, keeping the lengths random, and add the arrow heads at the end.

The Word Bearers symbol is easier than it looks. Follow this link to see how easy it can be. I used Blazing Orange, Tausept Ocre, Golden Yellow and Chaos Black.











20. Base it however you want, and there you are!

With thanks to Ron from From the Warp.